23.02.12

Leading universities warn of 'emerging crisis' in postgraduate education

The 1994 Group of
research intensive universities is calling on the Government to take action to
avoid lasting damage being done to postgraduate education in the UK. The call
comes in a new report ‘The Postgraduate Crises’ which the Group is publishing
today (Thursday). The report argues that successive Governments have neglected
postgraduate education and that the current Government’s HE reforms risk
causing damage to postgraduate education which would have “severe and long term
impacts for the UK.”

The report
highlights a range of ways in which reforms to higher education (HE) are
impacting on postgraduate education. It argues that “cuts to funding will force
universities to raise fees at the same time as an increased debt burden from
undergraduate study may act as a disincentive to many students who would otherwise
consider postgraduate study.” In particular the report warns that the lack of a
student support system for postgraduate students and the requirement for fees
to be paid up front could mean that students from poorer backgrounds will be
unable to take up postgraduate opportunities.

The report argues
that a decline in postgraduate education will have a long term negative impact
on the UK economy. It argues that:

·Postgraduate skills are critical to a strong
economy and are increasingly in demand from global employers;

·The international students attracted by UK
postgraduate courses bring significant boosts to local and national economies;

·Postgraduates play a crucial role in generating
new knowledge and driving innovation;

·Postgraduates play a pivotal role in
transferring research knowledge to industry.

Professor Michael
Farthing, Chairman of the 1994 Group and Vice Chancellor at the University of
Sussex, said:

“High level skills
are absolutely essential to the country's long term economic prospects but
we’re in real danger of choking off the pipeline of future postgraduate talent.
The Government’s failure to address postgraduate funding has been a real error
of judgement and we need to see some immediate action to avoid disaster.”

The report proposes a
range of measures to support postgraduate study, including:

·A reconsideration of the withdrawal of teaching
funding for postgraduate study,with a
commitment to continued funds being available beyond those which have been
announced for the 2012/13 academic year;

·Government action to encourage banks to create
better terms for Personal and Career Development Loans (PCDLs) and for them to
be more widely available;

·Efforts to encourage employee and industry
sponsorship of postgraduate provision.

Professor Farthing
added:

“With public finances
so tight the Government needs to think innovatively about how to fund postgraduate
education. Encouraging more banks to offer loans on better terms to
postgraduate students, alongside incentives for businesses to sponsor
postgraduate courses, seems like a good place to start. It’s absolutely crucial
that something is done and that it is done quickly. It could take years to
re-establish postgraduate courses wiped out by the falling demand lack of
student funding will bring. We have to act now to avoid such a meltdown. “

2. The 1994 Group
represents 19 of the UK’s leading student-focused research-intensive
universities. It was established in 1994 to promote excellence in University
research and teaching.

3. 12 of the top 20 universities in the Guardian University Guide
2012 league tables are 1994 Group members. 8 of the top 20 universities in the
2012 Sunday Times University League Table are 1994 Group members. 9 of the top
20 universities in the 2012 Complete University Guide are 1994 Group members.

4.In 17 major subject areas 1994 Group
universities are the UK leaders, achieving 1st place in their field (THE RAE
subject rankings 2008). 57% of the 1994 Group's research is rated 4*
'world-leading' or 3* 'internationally excellent' (RAE 2008, HEFCE).

5. The 1994 Group represents: University of Bath, Birkbeck
University of London, Durham University, University of East Anglia, University
of Essex, University of Exeter, Goldsmiths University of London, Institute of
Education University of London, Royal Holloway University of London, Lancaster
University, University of Leicester, Loughborough University, Queen Mary
University of London, University of Reading, University of St Andrews, School
of Oriental and African Studies, University of Surrey, University of Sussex,
University of York.